Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 23/05) - If City Hall wants to turn to a user-pay system for garbage pick-up then the solid levy charged to households every month should be nixed, residents told officials at a public forum Wednesday night.

The solid waste levy has been a bone of contention for Yellowknife ratepayers ever since the city implemented it back in the early 1990s to pay for the baling facility at the landfill.

Residents were told that the levy was only temporary but this year city council increased it by $1 to $11 a month to help cover the cost of closing the landfill and opening a new one.

Council also passed bylaws this year that raised tipping fees at the dump, including a $5 charge for vehicles entering the landfill effective Jan. 1, and set curbside garbage bag limits for next year.

Wednesday's solid waste forum at the Northern Heritage Centre saw residents alternate between demands that the city "should get on with it" and go to a user-pay system, while others scolded the city for "essentially imposing another tax." About 20 people attended the meeting.

Wayne Guy, who sits on the city's Solid Waste Management Committee on behalf of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, said the city will have to convince residents that it's not double-dipping.After Jan. 1, the city will limit households to three garbage bags a week. Residents will have to pay an extra $1 for each extra bag.

"Right now, I see it as a big safety net for the city as a cash income, but I think it's unfair to the consumer to charge them at both ends," said Guy.

Louie Azzolini said paying extra will be worth it if city can reduce the amount of trash going to the dump.

"Enough talking," said Azzolini. "Let's make the world better."

City councillor Kevin O'Reilly told residents that the city will review how the user-pay system works after a year.